Playing-card



J. G. MATTHEWS.

PLAYING CARD.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25. m5.

1,1 94,858. Patented Aug. 15,1916.

lwumtoz JAMES G. MATTHEWS, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

PLAYING-CARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed October 25, 1915. Serial No. 57,640.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. MATTHEws, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playing-Cards, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to-the accom panying drawing.

This invention relates to playing cards and the object of the invention is to provide a playing card of such a character as to facilitate the handling-of the pack or deck of cards.

Playing cards are of various kinds, the best known being the ordinary pedro deck, which comprises 4. suits, each designated by a symbol, the symbols being hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. The cards are usually rectangular in shape with the symbols on the body portion thereof, and indexes on diagonally opposite corners thereof. In addition to this particular type of playing card, there are various other playing cards with which different games may be played, but which are similar to the pedro deck in their general shape and in the manner in which they are handled.

My invention is applicable to any playing card of this general character, and in carrying out the main purpose thereof it is a further object to provide a playing card of such a shape that the pack, or deck, can be quickly and easily assembled with the several cards in proper alinement; that the deck can be more easily shuffled; that the cards can be readily spread into fan shape in the players hand, and when so spread will be symmetrically arran ed; and that a selected card may be withcIi'awn from the hand with less danger of displacing other cards in the hand.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a playing card having the indexes so arranged thereon that any edge of the card may constitute the base thereof; and that, when the deck is assembled, there will always be an index upon each card arranged to be exposed by spreading the cards into a fan shape.

Other objects of my invention, and other advantages resulting therefrom, will appear as it is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a detail view of a playing card constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2

shows a group of cards in the process of being brought into alinement; Fig. 3 shows a group of cards spread into fan shape, as they are held in the hand of the player; and Fig. 4 shows the invention applied to cards used for playing games of a different kind.

In these drawings I have shown, in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the invention as applied to the cards of the pedro deck, while in Fig. 4 I have shown the invention as applied to the cards of the game known as pit. In both instances the invention is exactly the. same, the cards differing only in the character of the symbols which they bear.

In carrying out the invention I utilize an equilateral card and preferably so shape the card that the corners, or angles, formed by the intersections of the edges thereof are less than a right angle, and I have found that an equilateral triangle is the most satisfactory shape. Such a card is shown in the drawings at 1 and has each of its three edges of substantially the same length and preferably has its corners rounded as shown. The several edges of each card being of the same length, it is obvious that when the cards are gathered up and dropped on edge on the table, they can be quickly and easily brought into alinement by a lateral movement thereof, that is, by merely pushing them together edge-wise. In this manner the disadvantage and difficulty experienced in alining the cards of the ordinary deck is entirely overcome, as the cards naturally aline themselves and it is not necessary for the player to adjust his cards or straighten them up, to arrange the long edges of all the cards parallel. Such a card is very easily shuflied, the narrow point, or corner, being readily insertible between the edges of other cards, and the shape is such that the handling and shufiiing can be accom plished in substantially the usual manner. Further, the shape of the card lends itself exceedingly well to the manipulating of the cards in the hands of the player. Each of the three corners of the card has a separate function when they are placed in the hand after the manner shown in Fig. 3. The lower left hand corner is grasped by the hand of the player and serves as a hub, or a supporting center about which the card is turned to adjust it in spreading the cards into fan shape. The lower right hand corner projects in such a manner that it may be readily grasped to manipulate the card about the support formed by the left hand corner. The upper corner, or the apex of the card, is so arranged that the index which is placed thereon, as is hereinafter described, can be very readily exposed. Further, the shape of the cards is such that when spread out in fan shape, the hand is symmetrical in form and of an attractive appearance, there being no parts or corners of the cards to project outward. When the cards are held in the hand as shown in Fig. 3, a selected card may be very readily removed with little danger of displacing other cards in the hand because of the comparatively small surfaces which are in contact and the narrow, tapering shape of that portion of the card which is grasped by the hand of the player.

The symbols may be arranged upon the cards in any suitable manner as here shown, however, I have arranged them in the central portion of the card and have employed a single symbol 2 for each card. I have placed an index 3, which usually comprises a symbol indicating the suit of the card and a letter or number indicating its value, in each corner of the card. This index being preferably arranged along that edge of the corner, which when the corner is uppermost, will be the left hand edge thereof. Thus, a slight lateral displacement of the cards will serve to expose the index. This arrangement of the indexes enables any edge of the card to constitute the base thereof, and the cards can be gathered up and brought into assembled positions with the assurance that each card will have an index in a position to be exposed when the cards are spread in the hand. Moreover, the shape of the card, particularly when combined with the arrangement of the index, enables a large number of cards to be held in the hand without inconvenience.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, I wish to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangement shown and described, as various modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having noW fully described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to protect by Letters Patent is 1. A triangular playing card having similar indexes in the angles thereof.

2. A playing card having a plurality of straight intersecting edges of substantially equal length and having similar indexes in the several corners therof.

3. A playing card having three sides of substantially equal length, having similar indexes in the angles thereof and having a symbol arranged in central portion theerof.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature hereto.

JAMES G. MATTHEIVS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patentl, Washington, D. G. 

